Preparation of gel-entrapped mycorrhizal inoculum in the presence or absence of Yarowia lipolytica

Two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus deserticola and Glomus fasciculatu m) were entrapped in calcium alginate, alone or in combination with a phosp hate-solubilizing yeast (Yarowia lipolytica) and, after storage for 60 days , were inoculated into soil microcosms with tomato as the test plant. The a verage extent of root colonization by gel-entrapped G. deserticola and G. f asciculatum were 32 +/- 5.6 and 24 +/- 12.1%, respectively. Improved infect ive potential and colonization efficiency were observed when Y. lipolytica was co-entrapped with the mycorrhizal fungi. The best value, 49%, of mycorr hizal colonization was in roots of plants inoculated with G. deserticola co -entrapped with Y. lipolytica.